Solenoid actuated switch



Jan. 28, 1958- 7 B. w. PIPER SOLENOID ACTUATED SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1956 ATTORNEY ll llll llll Jan. 28, 1958 'B.IW.'PIPER SOLENOID ACTUATED SWITCH F iled Jan. 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. 55/?7' WP/Pfi? BY M MM Jan. 28, 1958 B. w. PIPER 2,821,599

SOLENOID ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Jan. 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 44 INVENTOR.

United v States Patent SOLENOID ACTUATED SWITCH Bert W. Piper, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Kepley Manufacturing Co., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January'23, 1956, Serial No. 560,749

2 Claims. (Cl. 200-105) This invention relates to an electro-magnetically actuated'switch mechanism particularly adapted for use in controlling the operation of a split phase alternating current motor.

More particularly the present invention relates to an electr'o-magnetically operated switch mechanism for controlling an alternating current motor utilized in the raising and lowering of garage doors and the like. The conventional garage door raising and lowering mechanism motor is controlled by a three button switch, the first button causing the motor to be started and to run in one direction, the second button stopping the motor and the third button reversing the direction of rotation. Although providing satisfactory operation there are at least two disadvantages to the use of such a three button control. First, additional and complicated wiring is required between switch and motor particularly when it is 'desired to be able to operate the door raising and lowering mechanism from more than one remote control station. Second, the three button controller cannot be operated by radio means. One objection to mechanized garage raising and lowering systems is the general inconvenience of actuating the operation of the mechanism when desired. Of all the methods envisioned the simplest from a convenience standpoint would be a radio impulse transmitter mounted within a vehicle, which transmitter could be operated by merely pressing a push button on the vehicle dash board. However, the impulse transmitted can only be used to actuate a single switch element and cannot be made to select between the start, stop, and reverse circuits. Accordingly, present radio controlled door raising and lowering mechanisms have the objection that once the door is started up, for example,

the only direction the door will move is up until the upward movement is completed and a limit switch is actuated thereby reversing the mechanism in some manner permitting the door to be lowered.

. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electro-magnetically operated switch mechanism adapted to be operated by a single push button manually controlled or by a simple relay actuated by a radio transmitted impulse, which switch mechanism can be used to cause rotation of an alternating current motor in a first direction, to stop said motor and to reverse the direction of rotation, which reversal of direction can be made to occur. at any time. In garage door operation this would mean that the operator from within his vehicle could push the transmitter button to cause the garage door to raise. Ifthe operator changed his mind, he would only have to momentarily push the transmitter button a second time to stop the movement of the door. A third push on the button would cause the door to lower. The movement of the door in'one direction, the stopping thereof lowering direction.

Further objects and advantages and the features of construction embodied in the present invention used to attain the same will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a general plan view of the electro-magnetically actuated switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is aview in part sectional taken substantially through line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Fig. 3 is a view in part sectional taken substantially through line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Fig. ,4 is a view taken substantially through line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

. Fig. 5 is a view taken substantially through line 5-5 ofFig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view taken substantially through line 66 3 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedin itsv application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, since the invention is capable of other embodi- -ments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not oflimitation.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the structural features of the embodiment herein illustrated will be described. The various components of the switch mechanism, generally designated 10, are mounted within a casing 11 having a base or mounting plate 12. The I mounting plate 12 has mounted thereon a transformer 13, a relay 14 and a solenoid 15. These components are conventional and therefore will not be described structurally j in detail. They will be referred to again when the electrical circuitry of the present device is described in detail.

Energization of the solenoid 15 results in the core 16 thereof being retracted or moved to the left as viewed in the drawings. This movement of the core 16 is the motivating force in the operation of the switch device embodied herein and is utilized to cause rotation of a shaft 17. The shaft 17 is journalled at the left end thereof as 7 Viewed in Fig. 3 in a bearing block 18 carried on a side wall 19 of the casing 11. At its right end of the shaft 17 is journalled in an erect plate member 20 secured to the mounting plate 12 in any convenient manner, as by screws 21. The erect plate 20 has a further function to be explained.

Keyed to the shaft 17 is a star wheel 22 having eight equally spaced teeth 23 thereon. Coupled to the solenoid core 16 by a coupling link 24 is a star wheel motivating or actuating plate 25. The plate 25 is generally longitudinally extending in a horizontal direction and is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 26 through which the shaft 17 extends. The slot 26 permits the plate 25 to be moved in a longitudinal direction and relative gtented Jan. 28, 1958 to the shaft 17 and star wheel 22. The plate 25 carries two pins, pin 27 and pin 28.

As best seen in Fig. 2, pin 27 is located above the longitudinal. axis of the actuating plate 25 passing through the center of shaft 17. As plate 25 is moved, to they left upon retraction of the solenoid core 16, pin 27 is adapted to engage the underside of the star tooth 23 lying in, its. path, the point of engagement being near the tip of, the tooth. The pin 27 picks up the tooth 23 thereby causing the star gear or wheel to be rotated in a, counter-clockwise direction as viewed. in Fig. 2. The travel of the pin 27' to the left is sufficient to cause the star wheel 22 to. be rotated one-eighth of a revolution.

It will be noted that the actuating plate 25 has an up wardly extending appendage 29 having a coil spring 30 secured thereto. The spring 30 is attached at one end to said casing 11 and is adapted to be placed under tension when the actuating plate 25 is moved to the left by the solenoid core 16. Upon the solenoid core being released, the spring 30 causes return movement of the actuating plate 25 to the right. It will be noted that the pin 28 is on the opposite side of the star wheel 25 in relation to the pin 27. Further, the pin 28 lies on the longitudinal axis of the plate member passing through the center of shaft 17. As the pin 28 engages the root of the teeth 23 it causes the start wheel 25 to be moved in av direction to ensure proper alignment of the next tooth 23 to be abutted by the pin 27'. Thus, there will be. no possibility of the mechanism jamming or of the star wheel being rotated in the wrong direction due to improper alignment of the pin 27 with a tooth 23.

It will also be noted that the appendage 29 bears against the underside of the casing cover plate 31. The spring, 30 is tilted slightly to maintain this bearing contact at all times, the actuating plate 25 thus being guided along a substantially fixed longitudinal path.

The shaft 17 has secured thereon a, rotating contact carrying drum 32. As best viewed in Fig. 3, the drum 32 lies between the erect plate member 20 journalling the one end ofthe shaft 17 and an inboard erect plate member 33.

The plate member 20 has four equally spaced terminals 34 provided with contact buttons 35 on their'inner ends and threaded on their outer ends to receive retaining devices or nuts 36 to hold the terminal ends of the various electrical connections. The erect plate member- 33 is similarly provided with four terminals 37 having-contact buttons 38 on their inner ends and threaded on their outer ends toreceive retaining devices 36. Referring to Fig; 4; it will be, seen that the contact buttons 35 lie on a circle along diameters displaced forty-five degrees from thehorizontal and vertical. The contact buttons; 38, as. shown in Fig. 7,, also lie on a. circle and are on. the horizontal and vertical diameters. If Fig. 7 were superimposed on:v Fig. 4, it wouldbefound that eachv button 38,. would lie on a line through two buttons 35,. one on each side. thereof.

The rotating drum 32, between the two plate members 20. and 33 is provided with, a pair of contact devices, gen-- erally designated, 39. The contact devices 39 comprise suitably shaped leaf spring members 40. Thespring members 40 are made of any suitable spring alloy having good conducting qualities. At each. end thereof each. spring member 40 is provided with a contact button41 secured in any convenient manner, such as. by riveting. Riveted to the center of each spring member 40 is a. third contact button 42. The contact button 42 faces in a direction opposite to the contact buttons 41. The contact buttons 41 are adapted to contact the contact buttons 35 on the plate member 20 and the contact buttons 42 are adapted to contact the contact buttons 38 on the plate member 33, as will be explained. in greater detail.

The spring members 40, are housed in suitable recesses 43 spaced on each side of the. axis of rotation of the contact drum 32 as shown in Figs. and 6. g

'Itwill be understood that the plate members 20 and 33 and the drum 32 are made of suitable dielectric material.

Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12 the operation of the switch mechanism may be explained as follows:

The power supply for operating the switch and for operating the motor controlled by the switch comprises a single phase circuit represented by the supply line L-l and L-2. Lines L-1 and L-2 are adapted to be connected to terminals 34 carried by the. plate member 20.

To assist in understanding the operation of the switch the various contact buttons are identified by theirnumeral as shown in the structural drawing followed by a suflix a, b, c and d. Thus, line L-1 is connected to the terminal, 34 carrying button 35a thereon, and L-2 is connected to the terminal 34 carrying button 350. The terminals 34 carrying contact buttons 35a and 35b are joined by a jumper wire as are the terminals 34 carrying contact buttons 35b and 350. Hereinafter when it is stated that, a lead is connected: to a contact button. it will; be understood that the lead is connected to the terminal carry. ing the specified contact button. The leads from theprie mary side of the transformer 13 are connected to contact button 35a and contact button 35b.

One of the leads from the secondary side of a trans-- former 13 is connected to the relay 14. The second lead. from the secondary side of the transformer 13 is con.- nected to one terminal of a push. button 46 as is the second lead from the relay 14. Closing of the push. button 46 either manually or by an impulse transmittedto. a receiving relay from a transmitter located within a vehicle energizes the relay 14 causing the closing of a circuit between line L-1 and the solenoid 15. Energization of the solenoid 15 causes the core 16 to be moved to the. left as viewed in the drawings which, as has been. explained with regard to the structural details of the invention, causes the actuating plate 25 pin 27 to engage the, star wheel 22. Engagement of the star wheel 22 by the pin 27 causes the shaft 17 to be rotated one-eighth of a. revolution causing the contact drum 32 to be rotated oneeighth of a revolution. In the center portion of Fig. 11 the. contact drum 32 is. diagrammatically represented. Contact buttons 42a and 42b are shown in solid outline. These buttons would respectively contact the contact buttons 35a and 350 of the erect plate member 20 when in the position as shown in Fig. 11. Contact buttons 41a, 41b, 41c and 41d are shown in dotted outlines since they would be on the back side of the contact drum 22 when looking at this drum from the side at which contact buttons 42a and 42b are visible. At the right end of Fig, 11 the contact buttons 38a, 38b,,38c, and 38d are shown, which contact buttons are carried by the erect plate member 33. In the relative position of the contact drum 22 to the erect plate member 33 illustrated in Fig. 11, contact button 38a would be contacted by drum contact button 41a, 38b by 415, 380 by 410 and 38dv by 41d. The split phase alternating currentmotor adapted to be actuated by the switch mechanism 10 is illustrated diagrammatically by its windings. The winding 43 represents the starting winding. It will be noted that this winding has in series with it a switch 45, a centrifugally operated switch which automatically opens upon the motor reaching its rated speed. The running winding of the split phase motor is illustrated by the winding 44'. Dot and dash lines and arrows showing direction of current have been added to Fig. 11 to make it easier to understand the relationship between the various contact buttons when the various parts of the contactmembers are in the position illustrated in Fig. 11. Fig; 11 illustrates the appearance of the circuit to cause the garage-operatingmechanismmotor to run in a first direction. For explanation purposes, it will be assumed that the current is instantaneously enter ing line L-l from where it flows through button 35mm button 42a. From button 420 the current splits in twodirections through the-spring conductor 40 going to but tons 4-1a and-' 41b; From button 41a is flowsto button 381:: and then through the motor winding 43 to" button 3%.

From button 380 the current fiows to button 41c. Going back to spring conductor 40 and button 4112,- the current flows to button 38b to the motor winding 44 and out to button 38d. From button 38d the current flows to button 41d. From buttons 41c and 41d the current flows through the spring conductor 40b to button 42b. Button 42b being in contact with contact button 350 the current flows through contact 350 out through line L-2.

To stop the operation of the motor represented by the windings 43 and 44 it is necessary to push the push button 46 energizing the solenoid causing the core thereof 16 to move to the left again whereby the star wheel, the shaft 17, and the contact drum 22 are rotated a further one-eighth of a revolution. When so rotated the contact buttons 42a and 42b will be displaced 45 from the position shown in Fig. 11 being then intermediate any of the contact buttons 35. The switch will thus be open beyond the contact buttons 35 and the motor will stop.

To cause the motor to reverse its direction, the push button 46 is again actuated causing the energization of the solenoid 15 and the movement of the core 16 to the left causing rotation of the star wheel, the shaft 17 and the contact drum 22 another one-eighth of a revolution. It will be recalled that to reverse the direction of a split phase motor, it is only necessary to reverse or interchange any set of stator leads. In the new position of the contact drum contacts 42a and 42b this has, in effect, been done. The leads to the starting winding 43 of the motor have been reversed. This will be apparent from an examination of Fig. 12. Current entering line L-l is carried to button 35d where it is picked up by button 42a. From button 42a the current flows through the spring conductor 40a to buttons 41b and 41c. From button 41c the current is picked up by button 380 where it is fed to the left end of the winding 43, rather than to the right end as viewed in Fig. 11. The current flows through the starter winding 43 from left to right to the contact button 38a from where it is picked up by contact button 41a and fed through the spring conductor 40b to the button 42b. The current from contact button 41b is picked up by contact button 38b and is fed to the running winding 44 of the motor in the same direction as shown in Fig. 11. After going through the running winding 44 it flows out through button 38d where it is picked up by button 41d and fed through the spring conductor 40b to the button 42b. From button 42b the current is picked up by button 35b and carried through the jumper to button 350 and then out through line L-2. The stator leads to the starting winding having in effect been reversed, the motor now operates in a reverse direction.

To stop the motor, it is only necessary to push the push button 46 causing energization of the solenoid 15 causing the core 16 to move to the left whereby the star wheel, the shaft 17 and the contact drum 22 are rotated once again another one-eighth turn. The contact buttons 42a and 42b are then again positioned out of con tact with the supply contact buttons 35. Next time the push button 46 is actuated, the contact drum 22 will be rotated another one-eighth of a revolution placing the contact button 42b in contact with the contact button 35a. This will result in the same circuit to the motor windings as shown in Fig. 11 whereby the motor will run in the direction it first ran.

Thus, with the foregoing switch mechanism, a single push button 46 may be utilized to cause raising, stopping, and lowering movements of a garage door or the like. If the garage door is started in an up direction, it may be stopped at any point in its upward travel by merely pushing the push button 46. The next actuation of the push button 46 would result in the garage door moving downward. However, this downward movement may be stopped at any point in its travel, merely by actuating the push button 46 again. Since only a single push button or relay 46 is required to close the circuit to cause operation of the door raising and lowering mechanism, it

will be readily apparentthat the system is'advantageous ly adapted to be used with an impulse transmitter mounted within a vehicle.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there is illustrated an alternative method of mounting the contact elements in the rotating contact drum, herein generally designated 47. On the side of the contact drum 47 opposite the plate member 20 and contact buttons 35 a pair of contact bars 48 having contactprojections 49 are carried. The bars 48 are nested in recesses 50. Each recess 50 is in contact with an axially extending bore 51. Each bore 51 houses a cylindrical contact element 52 adapted to contact the buttons 38 carried by the plate member 3. A coil spring 53 is inserted in each bore 51 between the contact bar 48 and the contact elements 52, which spring is adapted to urge both contact elements outwardly. The spring 53 may be the conductor between the contact bars 48 and the contact elements 52 or a wire conductor 54 maybe suitably inserted between each pair of contact bars 48 and the contact elements 52. The structural modification shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive operates in exactly the same manner as the structure shown and described in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.

I claim:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a pair of spaced members mounted on said mounting plate, shaft means rotatably projecting through said spaced members, a drum member carried by said shaft means axially interposed between said spaced members, actuating means operatively connected to said shaft means for imparting unidirectional step by step motion to said drum member, said actuating means comprising a solenoid means, a reciprocable plate movable by said solenoid means, a toothed member carried by said shaft means, a first abutment means carried by said reciprocable plate engageable with said toothed member tooth by tooth to impart said step by step motion to said shaft means and said drum member, resilient means restoring said reciprocable plate member to its normal rest position after each movement thereof, a second abutment means carried by said plate member engageable with said toothed member between two adjacent teeth thereof for aligning said toothed member to ensure proper engagement of said first abutment means with the next tooth to be engaged thereby, said second abutment means being positioned between said two teeth on restoration of said plate member to said normal rest position, one of said spaced members having a plurality of input current contact members adapted to be connected in pairs to a source of alternating current, the other of said spaced members having a plurality of output current contact members, and contact means carried by said drum effective in a first step position thereof to provide a current bridge between a first combination of input and output current contact members whereby the current flow occurs in a predetermined manner through a first grouping of output current contact members, said contact means in a second step position of said drum being ineffective to provide a current bridge, and said contact means in a third step position of said drum being effective to provide a current bridge between a second combination of input and output current contact members whereby the current flow occurs in an alternate predetermined manner through a second grouping of output current contact members.

2. In a switch mechanism, a drum member, a shaft means supporting said drum member for rotation, actuating means for imparting unidirectional step by step motion to said drum member, said actuating means comprising a solenoid means, a reciprocable plate movable by said solenoid means, a toothed member carried by said shaft means, afirst abutment means carried by said reciprocable plate engageable with said toothed member tooth by tooth to impart said step by step motion to said shaft means and said drum member, resilient means restoring said reciprocable plate member to its normal 7 rest position after each movement thereof, a second abut"- men-t means carried by said plate member engageable with said toothed member between twoadjacent teeth thereof for aligning said toothed member to ensure proper engagement of saidfirst abutment means with the next tooth to be engaged thereby, said second abutment meansbeing positioned between said two teeth on restoration of said plate member to said normal rest position, said drum member being axially interposed between a pair of fixed" plate members, one of said plate members having a plurality of input current contact members located in the face thereof adjacent one end face of said drum member, said contact members having terminal portions adapted to be connected in: pairs to a source of'alternating current, the other of said spaced members having a plurality of output current contact members in its face located adjacent the other end face of said drum member, and current bridge means carried by said drum member, said current. bridge means including contact membersv located in each end face of said drum member, said current bridge means contact members in every second progressive step movement of the drum member contacting selective combinations of plate member contact members, the current bridge means providing a current bridge between predetermined combinations of input and output current contact members to direct the current flow through-the output current contact members in alternate patterns.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,793,087 Haywood Feb. 17, 1931 1,924,776 Flanders et; a1. Aug. 29, 1933 2,025,978 Getty Dec.. 31, 1935 2,133,799 Bickel Oct. 1'8, 1938 2,417,788 Sofiel Mar. 18,, 1947 2,578,940 Morris Dec. 18, 1951 2,581,166 Bonanno et al Ian. 1, 1952 2,630,507 Lawson Mar. 3, 1953 2,661,450 M'oler .Dec. 1, 1953 

